Cheetahs start Watts in Currie Cup against Griquas

Free State Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan has been able to bring two experienced players back for their Currie Cup clash against the Griquas on Saturday afternoon in Bloemfontein.

The Free State Cheetahs will still be without the injured Coenie and Caylib Oosthuizen as well as a number of Super Rugby players who are with the Springboks so the availability of two more players is a big boost.

Flanker Jean Cook and fly half Elgar Watts, both with Super Rugby experience, were included in the run-on side for the local derby.

Cook replaced Neil Claassen, who was relegated to the bench, while Watts came in for Willie du Plessis in the number 10 jersey.

Last week's loss against the Pumas in Nelspruit was one the Cheetahs felt they could have won, had the bounce of the ball gone their way. Duncan said they were determined to use the Griquas game to rectify their wrongs.

"Both our games - the warm-up against the Kings and the match against the Pumas - were away fixtures. It will be nice for the guys to have a home game as they haven't played together in the Free State Stadium," Duncan said.

"It is always nice running out on your home ground and one thing I can tell you is the guys are fired up for the game against Griquas. They want to rectify the mistakes we made against the Pumas. The guys are very keen."

In the reserves, experienced prop Bees Roux was left out while youngster Rudolph Botha was included alongside AJ le Roux. Le Roux replaced hooker Hercu Liebenberg as the impact player was struggling with a knee injury.

Super Rugby scrumhalf Shaun Venter was also given a chance and replaced Renier Botha after recovering form an foot injury.